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Bulgaria, North Macedonia Map Path Out Of Standoff Blocking EU Progress

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (left) and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev meet at the summit in Brdo, Slovenia, on October 6.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (left) and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev meet at the summit in Brdo, Slovenia, on October 6.

Leaders from North Macedonia and EU member Bulgaria appear to have mapped out a possible exit from a yearlong dispute over shared culture that has stalled Macedonian hopes for progress toward accession talks with the bloc.

But without a decisive breakthrough to lift Sofia's objections to opening such negotiations, EU officials acknowledged that the failure to decide to open membership talks with Skopje was likely damaging the bloc's "credibility."

A tentative route out of the 10-month deadlock emerged on October 6 after a meeting between Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of an EU-Western Balkans summit at Brdo Castle in Slovenia.

"During the talks, mutual readiness and interest were expressed by North Macedonia and Bulgaria to continue the dialogue between the two countries with the intention of reaching a solution," Zaev said in a statement.

Sofia raised its objection to EU accession talks with North Macedonia in November 2020, accusing Macedonians of marginalizing historical, cultural, and linguistic ties and appropriating Bulgarian heritage.

Radev, who faces a reelection battle in November alongside his disunited country's third parliamentary elections this year, announced at Brdo Castle that a bilateral protocol was being drafted between Sofia and Skopje and would be presented next month.

He said a road map with specific decisions could follow that Sofia will insist on including in the framework for North Macedonia's EU membership negotiations.

Radev listed three demands from the Bulgarian side before Sofia would withdraw its objection to EU talks for Skopje: a previous insistence on the inclusion of Bulgarians as a nationality in the Macedonian Constitution; the enumeration of Macedonian Bulgarians "adequately reflected as a nationality and as a number" in the upcoming Macedonian census; and recognition by North Macedonia of "the historical truth in relations with Bulgaria."

The European Commission has repeatedly said the futures of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia lie in the 27-member bloc.

But divisions among EU states about taking in new members and the slow pace of reform in the six hopefuls has put enlargement on ice for years.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged at Brdo on October 6 that the blocked accession talks of North Macedonia and nearby Albania were damaging the EU's credibility in the Western Balkans.

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EU Sues Hungary Over Russian-Style Sovereignty-Defense Law

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (file photo)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (file photo)

The European Commission on October 3 said it was suing Hungary at the European Court of Justice over the so-called Defense of Sovereignty, a piece of legislation that critics say mirrors a similar Russian move that aims to silence government opponents.

The commission -- the European Union's executive arm -- said the law, under which a so-called Sovereignty Protection Office was established with the purported aim of defending Hungary's sovereignty against foreign influence, is in breach of EU legislation.

After Hungary's parliament, controlled by nationalist right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, easily passed the bill, the commission in February opened an infringement procedure, saying it considered the legislation to violate the bloc's democratic values and fundamental rights.

"After carefully assessing the reply of the Hungarian authorities, the commission maintains that most of the grievances identified have still not been addressed," it said in a statement.

Under Orban, who has been in power since 2010 and has maintained a cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, EU and NATO member Hungary has strengthened its ties with Russia and China while stifling media freedom and the rule of law, prompting Brussels to impose punitive measures on Budapest.

Hungary has repeatedly claimed that Brussels and Washington are funding domestic opposition groups in order to influence Hungarian voters.

The law was criticized by Western governments, rights groups, and media watchdogs as being modelled on Russia's "foreign agents" legislation used by the Kremlin over the past decade to stifle domestic criticism and persecute political opponents.

In November, Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, urged Budapest to scrap the bill, saying it "poses a significant risk to human rights and should be abandoned."

In December, the Committee to Protect Journalists urged Hungary's president to refuse to sign the bill, saying in a statement that it "bears the hallmarks of a Russian-style foreign agent law and has no place in an EU member state."

In June, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on June 27 said Washington was "deeply concerned" by the Sovereignty Protection Office's "draconian actions" and that the law threatened the "human rights and fundamental freedoms" of Hungary's own citizens.

The European Court has the power to order a member country to comply with EU laws and impose penalties.

Putin Signs Law Allowing Criminal Defendants To Join Military

One activist expressed concern over the worsening conditions in prisons and detention centers, saying that the harsh environment is being used as a tool to pressure inmates, suspects, and defendants into signing military contracts. (file photo)
One activist expressed concern over the worsening conditions in prisons and detention centers, saying that the harsh environment is being used as a tool to pressure inmates, suspects, and defendants into signing military contracts. (file photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial new law suspending criminal proceedings against individuals who are called up for military service or sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense to serve in the armed forces.

The move allows defendants, even those already on trial or appealing conviction, to avoid prosecution by joining the military.

The law represents another step in Russia's attempts to increase its military strength without resorting to the politically sensitive option of mass mobilization.

By targeting prisoners and defendants, the Kremlin can continue to recruit soldiers while minimizing public dissent.

The strategy, however, has raised significant human rights concerns, with reports of coerced enlistment, harsh prison conditions aimed at motivating inmates to join the war, and increased pressure on individuals awaiting trial.

The process has also come under fire amid a crime wave involving convicts who return from the front lines after fulfilling their service requirements.

Under the new law, criminal defendants will now have the option to enlist in the military at various stages of their legal proceedings.

This includes when their case has been sent to court or even during the trial process. The law also applies to those whose sentences have not yet been finalized, meaning individuals who have appealed their convictions could still avoid jail time by enlisting.

Initially spearheaded by the Wagner mercenary group, the convict-recruitment drive has since been taken over by the Defense Ministry.

According to a report by the IStories website, the Russian government plans to recruit around 24,000 defendants to serve in the war in Ukraine.

The publication quoted two lawyers and a source within the Defense Ministry as saying that pretrial detention centers and military personnel had already begun preparing for such recruitment even before the law was officially signed.

These preparations reportedly involved gathering information on which defendants were fit for military service and willing to sign contracts.

The source from the Defense Ministry estimated that roughly 40 percent of the approximately 60,000 defendants currently in pretrial detention were likely to be conscripted.

Lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov told IStories that the recruitment drive was part of an effort to avoid a new wave of "partial mobilizations," a move that could spark public backlash.

In September 2022, Putin's announcement of such a mobilization prompted tens of thousands of Russian men to flee the country, fearing they would be sent to the front lines.

Olga Romanova, head of the Russian human rights group Russia Behind Bars, confirmed to Current Time that recruitment from pretrial detention centers began long before Putin signed the law.

"As of January 1, 2024, 53 prisons have been shut down because the majority of inmates were recruited for the war," Romanova explained.

She added that over 20 prisons had been repurposed to house Ukrainian prisoners of war and were now under Defense Ministry control.

Romanova expressed concern over the worsening conditions in prisons and detention centers, saying that the harsh environment is being used as a tool to pressure inmates, suspects, and defendants into signing military contracts.

"Investigators are now using threats to impose the harshest punishments on suspects before their trials even begin, pushing them toward military service as a way out," Romanova said.

She also noted that law enforcement had started to detain individuals on minor charges, such as shoplifting or verbal insults, with the apparent goal of funneling them into military recruitment.

Romanova shared cases where detainees were threatened with lengthy prison sentences or harsh treatment unless they agreed to enlist.

Earlier this week, Putin signed a decree for the regular conscription of males between the ages of 18 and 30 for one year of mandatory military service.

The conscription period began on October 1 and will continue until December 31, during which an estimated 133,000 men are expected to join the Russian military.

While Putin initially assured the public that only contract soldiers would be deployed to fight in Ukraine, reports suggest that conscripts are often coerced into signing contracts shortly after their induction that see them sent to the front line.

4 Russian Journalists On Trial Over Links To Navalny

Antonina Favorskaya appears in a Moscow courtroom in March.
Antonina Favorskaya appears in a Moscow courtroom in March.

The trial of four Russian journalists associated with the late opposition leader Aleksei Navalny -- including two who have worked for international news agencies -- has begun behind closed doors in a court in Moscow.

Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artyom Kriger are accused of participating in extremist activities for allegedly contributing to YouTube channels affiliated with Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

Gabov and Karelin are freelance journalists who have worked for several news organizations, including, respectively, Reuters and the Associated Press.

Favorskaya and Kriger both work for the independent news outlet SOTAVision, which has been designated a "foreign agent" in Russia.

The journalists each face up to six years in prison if convicted.

The FBK and related organizations were labeled "extremist" by the Russian authorities in 2021, making any association with them a criminal offense.

Dozens of journalists are currently in detention in Russia on similar grounds, according to human rights groups.

The court closed the proceedings to the public citing a warning from Russia's Center for Combating Extremism alleging that the FBK may try to disrupt the trial, which is part of a broader crackdown on Navalny's former associates.

"This is just some kind of archaism. This is how they do it in totalitarian regimes," the independent news outlet Mediazona quoted Kriger as telling the judge before the public was cleared from the court room.

Navalny, who died in prison in February under controversial circumstances, was serving a 19-year sentence on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

His death has sparked further scrutiny and allegations of foul play.

With reporting by Reuters and Mediazona
Updated

New NATO Chief In Kyiv As Romania Delivers Patriot System To Ukraine

A Patriot battery fires a missile during exercises at the Black Sea training range in Capu Midia, Constanta, Romania, in November 2023.
A Patriot battery fires a missile during exercises at the Black Sea training range in Capu Midia, Constanta, Romania, in November 2023.

A Patriot missile-defense system donated by NATO member Romania has arrived in Ukraine, the two neighbors announced on October 3, as the military alliance's secretary-general, Mark Rutte, made a surprise visit to Kyiv just two days after taking office.

Russian drones and missiles rained down on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions in the early hours of October 3, and as Rutte met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy later in the day, air-raid sirens twice blared throughout the capital, underscoring the situation faced by residents of the capital and other regions of the country.

"I thank every country that helps us with air defense. A special thanks to Romania for the 'Patriot' systems. Together, we can achieve even greater efficiency -- we can put an end to Russian terror by jointly taking down 'Shaheds' and missiles," Zelenskiy said on X, while Romania's Defense Ministry confirmed to RFE/RL that the Patriot system had been delivered.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Speaking after his meeting with Zelenskiy, Rutte vowed to help build and maintain Western support for Ukraine as it battles to repel Russia's full-scale invasion, launched by the Kremlin in February 2022.

"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before," he said, noting recent steps taken by the alliance that are helping to "build a bridge to NATO membership."

Highlighting the risk to NATO members such as Romania that border on Ukraine, Russian drones again struck the critically important Ukrainian port of Izmayil just across the Danube, prompting Bucharest to scramble F-16 fighter jets to monitor the situation late on October 2.

"We confirm that the Patriot system has arrived in Ukraine," Constantin Spinu, a spokesman for Romania's Defense Ministry, told RFE/RL on October 3, after the government in Bucharest last month passed a bill needed for the transfer of the system to Kyiv.

Under the bill, Romania grants Ukraine the right of free use of the system.

Kyiv has been desperately urging its Western allies to supply more modern weapons and air-defense systems that would help it on the one hand to protect its skies and on the other hand allow it to strike military targets deeper inside Russia to prevent Moscow's forces from launching attacks on Ukraine from a safe distance.

Early on October 3, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 78 Russian drones over 15 regions -- Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsya, Khmelnytskiy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Poltava, Chernihiv, Kherson, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Rivne, and Ivano-Frankivsk -- the air force reported.

The head of the Ukrainian capital's military administration said on Telegram that 15 drones were downed over Kyiv. Drone debris fell on the capital's Desnyanskiy district without causing injuries or damage during the attack, which lasted for more than five hours, Serhiy Popko said.

Separately, a source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told RFE/RL that Ukrainian drones overnight attacked the Borisoglebsk military airfield in Russia's Voronezh region. The airfield, some 240 kilometers from the border, has been used by Russia to launch missile attacks on Ukraine.

The source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that satellite monitoring showed that four fires were burning on the airfield's perimeter.

Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said 113 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over the Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, and Bryansk regions. The highest number of drones, 73, were intercepted over Belgorod, the ministry said.

Ukraine, whose civilian and energy infrastructure has been battered by relentless Russian drone and missile strikes since the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion in February 2022, has in turn begun to launch its own drone strikes on military facilities deeper inside Russia.

Russian Beaten By Kadyrov's Son While In Custody Charged With Treason

Nikita Zhuravel appears in a Grozny courtroom in late February. (file photo)
Nikita Zhuravel appears in a Grozny courtroom in late February. (file photo)

Nikita Zhuravel, a Russian political prisoner who was beaten by the teenage son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov while in pretrial detention, has been charged with high treason.

The Russian Prosecutor-General's Office announced on October 3 that Zhuravel's case has been forwarded to the Volgograd regional court.

The new charge stems from allegations that in March 2023, Zhuravel, 20, sent a video to a representative of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) that reportedly contained footage of military equipment being transported by train, images of military aircraft, and details of a service vehicle's movements.

Under Russian law, treason can result in a life sentence.

Zhuravel is already serving a 3 1/2-year prison sentence handed down by a Chechen court in February after being convicted of hooliganism for publicly burning a Koran in his hometown of Volgograd.

He was also sentenced to 300 hours of community service for insulting religious believers.

During the trial, Zhuravel apologized to the Muslim community, acknowledging his actions but claiming he had no intention to offend anyone.

The case drew widespread attention when it was revealed that while Zhuravel was in custody in Chechnya, he was attacked by Adam Kadyrov, the 15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov.

A video of the assault in a jail was shared on social media by the elder Kadyrov, sparking public outrage.

Despite this, law enforcement in Chechnya declined to pursue a criminal investigation, citing a lack of evidence.

Kadyrov defended his son's actions, publicly stating that it would have been better if his son had killed Zhuravel.

Adam Kadyrov was later awarded the title of “Hero of the Republic of Chechnya,” the highest honor in the region, and received further accolades from several Russian regions.

The human rights group Memorial has recognized Zhuravel as a political prisoner, raising doubts about the Koran-burning accusations and criticizing his transfer from Volgograd to mostly Muslim-populated Chechnya for investigation and trial.

The organization has also condemned the violence Zhuravel endured in detention as a serious legal violation.

Georgian Speaker Signs Law Curbing LGBT Rights After President Refuses To

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili (file photo)
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili (file photo)

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on October 3 signed into law a bill that rights groups, the opposition, and the international community say drastically curbs the rights of the country's LGBT community.

Papuashvili, of the ruling Georgian Dream party and a co-sponsor of the bill, endorsed the bill after President Salome Zurabishvili on October 2 refused to sign it and returned it to parliament, in accordance to the provisions of the Georgian Constitution.

The so-called "family values" bill was pushed through parliament by Georgian Dream on September 17 in an 84-0 vote, which was boycotted by the opposition while rallies were being held by protesters outside the parliament building.

While legal under the constitution, Papuashvili's move highlights the dramatically polarized political landscape in the South Caucasus country, with Georgian Dream at odds with both Zurabishvili and the political opposition, which has been boycotting parliament for months ahead of elections scheduled next month.

After Papuashivili's endorsement, the law is to be published in Georgia's Legislative Gazette and will come into force on the 60th day after its publication.

The package of legal changes, whose complete title is On Family Values And Protection Of Minors, brings changes to 18 current laws, including legislation on free speech and expression as well as broadcasting.

The measures provide for the banning of gatherings that promote the right of a person to identify as a gender other than "his or her biological sex" and they also prohibit gatherings advocating for same-sex orientation or relationships.

As he signed the bill, Papuashvili took a swipe at both Zurabishvili and the opposition for refusing to back it.

"It is symbolic that the leader of the devalued opposition who has become a popular president refuses to sign the law that protects what's most valuable for a person -- family and children," Papuashvili said.

Papuashvili, whose party remains the most popular, according to opinion polls ahead of crucial October 26 elections, also dismissed in advance the expected Western criticism of his move.

"I understand very well that the signing of this law will cause criticism from some foreign partners, but we Georgians have never been afraid of others' judgment when our faith, common sense, and loyalty to the country required us to do so and when we saw that the currents of civilization were going in the wrong direction," he said.

The opposition has boycotted parliamentary sessions since May, when Georgian Dream lawmakers approved a "foreign influence" bill, which Western governments and many Georgians liken to Russia's "foreign agent" law used by the Kremlin to clamp down on dissent with broad discretion.

The law requires organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence."

Zurabishvili vetoed that bill, but the ruling party overrode her opposition and promulgated it despite months of public protests and warnings from the United States and the European Union that the measure was eroding Georgia's democracy and its path to integration into Western institutions.

In response, Washington on September 16 introduced sanctions on more than 60 Georgians, including two members of the government, who it said had "undermined" democracy and human rights in the country, prompting Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to warn that Tbilisi might revise its ties with the United States.

The European Union, meanwhile, reacted to the bill by pausing EU accession negotiations.

Georgian Dream, founded by Russian-friendly Georgian tycoon and ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is the party's top candidate for the upcoming elections, has insisted it remains committed to joining Western institutions.

Georgia's civil society has for years sought to move the country away from the influence of Russia, which still maintains thousands of troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway Georgian regions that Moscow recognized as independent states following a five-day war with Tbilisi in 2008.

Israel Strikes Downtown Beirut As Iran Warns Of Larger Strikes

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli air strike that targeted a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on October 3.
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli air strike that targeted a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on October 3.

Israel struck downtown Beirut, killing at least six people, in the first attack on the center of the Lebanese capital since 2006 as Iran's military warned it would launch broader strikes if the Jewish state responds to its October 1 missile attack.

Israel said its air strike on Beirut was a precise operation, while a security source said the target was an apartment building in the capital's central district of Bachoura near the Lebanese parliament.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said the death toll from the strike rose to six after three seriously wounded people succumbed to their wounds. Seven others were wounded in the strike, the ministry said.

Aftermath Of Israeli Attack On Beirut
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Aftermath Of Israeli Attack On Beirut

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Another strike targeted the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week, according to Lebanese security officials.

Earlier, an Israeli strike on Syria's capital, Damascus, killed four people, including Hassan Jaafar al-Qasir, Nasrallah's son-in-law, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.

Hezbollah is both an armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, although the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.

The attacks on Beirut came a day after Israel, which has been pursuing a ground incursion into south Lebanon, reported that eight of its soldiers were killed -- the deadliest day for the Israeli military since launching the cross-border raid this week.

Will Iran's Attacks On Israel Trigger A Regional Blowup?
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Iran's military chief, Major General Mohammad Bagheri on October 2 said the missile attack launched by Tehran had been limited to military targets, but claimed that in case of an Israeli response, larger Iranian strikes would follow.

"If the Zionist regime is not controlled and takes action against Iran, we will target all of its infrastructure," he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also said in a message on X that the attack targeted "solely military and security sites" involved in what he said was the Israeli "genocide in Gaza and Lebanon" and was conducted by Iran in "self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter."

Bagheri's statement came after Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian also warned Israel against retaliating and promised a strong response.

"We are not looking for war. It is Israel that forces us to react," Pezeshkian said after arriving in Qatar for a summit with Asian countries.

Pezeshkian criticized Israel over the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas -- designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU -- in July in Tehran, an assassination Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for.

"We also want security and peace. It was Israel that assassinated Haniyeh in Tehran," Pezeshkian was quoted saying on his arrival in Qatar.

Tehran on October 1 launched a massive ballistic-missile attack on Israel, its largest so far, in retaliation for the campaign launched by the Jewish state in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, prompting warnings of countermeasures from Israel and its main ally, the United States.

Israeli air defenses intercepted most of the estimated 180 missiles that were fired, though some landed in central and southern Israel.

Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said the missile attack was meant to avenge Israel's killing of Nasrallah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would strike back at Iran following the October 1 missile attack as fears grow of a full-blown regional war.

"Iran made a big mistake tonight -- and it will pay for it," Netanyahu said hours after the Iranian attack.

On October 2, Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, told CNN that the response to the Iranian attack will be "very strong, painful," and will come "soon.”

People who left audio messages for RFE/RL's Radio Farda in response to the attack indicated they had little hope that anything would change.

"The Islamic republic wanted to show pragmatism, but some in analytical circles (experts and journalists) who live outside of Iran, voiced support for war [and] pushed Iran to attack. Nothing will happen and [it] went hand in hand with hard-liners inside," said one man.

"You can't just call for war and bloodshed living in the free world. This is against the basics of democracy. Please help. The world needs peace."

A woman said it was "ridiculous," and noted that some missiles landed inside Iran.

"They think they can do anything. They lit a fire -- I hope they burn in it as well," she said.

There has been speculation that Israeli might attack sites related to Tehran’s nuclear program, but U.S. President Joe Biden said he would not support that.

Biden's comments came after he and fellow Group of Seven leaders spoke by phone on October 2 to discuss coordinating new sanctions against Iran.

The G7 leaders "unequivocally condemned Iran's attack against Israel" and Biden reiterated the United States' "full solidarity and support to Israel and its people," a White House statement said.

U.S. Says Biggest Election Influence Threats Come From Russia, Iran, China

Viewers cheer as they watch a debate between Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump on September 10.
Viewers cheer as they watch a debate between Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump on September 10.

The United States expects Russia, Iran, and China to continue their attempts to influence the November 5 elections by using artificial intelligence to disseminate fake information, according to a report released on October 2 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The department considers the three countries the most pressing foreign threats to U.S. critical infrastructure and expects them to remain so.

The Justice Department last week provided examples of how Russia was behind a fake San Francisco television channel that spread lies about Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic party's nominee for president.

The fictitious station used actors to create a fake broadcast about Harris's involvement in a hit-and-run incident that never occurred. The fake broadcast was viewed by millions on X and TikTok before the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence told reporters the Russian "influence actors" were behind it.

These "influence actors" have also attempted to stoke discord by amplifying stories about migrants entering the United States and have used generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake websites that appeared to be authentic U.S.-based media outlets, the DHS report said.

"Nation-states, criminal hacktivists, and financially motivated criminals will likely hone their techniques to disrupt U.S. services or to conduct espionage focused on gaining access to U.S. networks and critical infrastructure entities," the DHS said in its annual homeland threat assessment.

The DHS assessment anticipates Russia, Iran, and China "will use a blend of subversive, undeclared, criminal, and coercive tactics to seek new opportunities to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions and domestic social cohesion."

The report said Iran has become "increasingly aggressive in its foreign influence efforts," citing Iranian actors who posed as activists online to encourage protests over the conflict in Gaza.

Polls indicate the presidential election between Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will be so close that the result could further inflame partisan tensions and offer opportunities for foreign adversaries to try to disrupt the democratic process.

Domestic violent extremists pose another serious threat, according to the report. DHS said it expects domestic extremists to attempt violent actions "with the intent of instilling fear among voters, candidates, and election workers, as well as disrupting election processes."

With reporting by Reuters

Russia Launches Criminal Case Against Opposition Yabloko Party Lawmaker

Lev Shlosberg is one of the few Kremlin critics publicly opposed to the Ukraine campaign who is still at large in the country. (file photo)
Lev Shlosberg is one of the few Kremlin critics publicly opposed to the Ukraine campaign who is still at large in the country. (file photo)

Russia has opened a criminal case against opposition politician Lev Shlosberg, one of the few Kremlin critics publicly opposed to the Ukraine campaign still at large in the country.

Shlosberg, deputy leader of the Yabloko party, said officers on October 2 searched his apartment and the apartment of his father in the northwestern city of Pskov. His father was interrogated but released.

Russia's Investigative Committee has accused Shlosberg of failing to disclose his status as a "foreign agent" in public statements -- a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison.

Moscow has waged a relentless crackdown on independent politicians and dissent since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It has used the foreign agents law to silence those who oppose the government and the war.

Anybody designated a foreign agent must attach a lengthy disclaimer to all public statements, including social media posts. They are also required to submit financial reports to Russian authorities.

Shlosberg, 61, is accused of "repeatedly publicly distributed materials without indicating they were created or spread by a foreign agent." He has denied breaking the law.

"I do not consider myself guilty of committing the crime of which I have been accused," he said on Telegram.

In social media posts and broadcasts on YouTube, Shlosberg has repeatedly said the conflict is a "tragedy," lamented the loss of life, and called for peace.

He has also expressed support for political prisoners jailed inside Russia.

Shlosberg is a rare example of a figure who opposes the conflict in Ukraine and the government but has stayed in the country.

He has already been fined in the past for violating the foreign agents law and for allegedly "discrediting" the Russian Army.

Yabloko founder and former longtime party leader Grigory Yavlinsky declared his support for Shlosberg on October 2. "I wish him freedom and strength," he said on Telegram.

With reporting by AFP and dpa

Croatia Backs Out Of NATO Ukraine Mission Over National Security Concerns

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic (file photo)
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic (file photo)

The president of Croatia has refused to approve the participation of Croatian soldiers in NATO's mission to support Ukraine, citing concerns about the conflict spreading toward Croatia and his desire to ensure the safety of the Balkan country.

The leaders of NATO member states agreed on a support package for Ukraine during a summit in July. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic initially gave his consent to the package, which will include establishing the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training for Ukraine by its allies and partners.

However, on October 1, Milanovic refused to approve it.

NATO declined to comment on Milanovic's decision, telling RFE/RL that questions about Croatia's contributions should be directed to Croatian authorities.

NATO officials, however, reiterated that newly appointed Secretary-General Mark Rutte had confirmed the alliance's unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

5 Things To Know About New NATO Boss Mark Rutte
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The NATO package for Ukraine includes the establishment of the NSATU in Germany with logistics hubs across allied territories to facilitate the provision of equipment, training, and long-term financial support.

The final declaration of the NATO summit that its aim was to "place security assistance to Ukraine on an enduring footing, ensuring enhanced, predictable, and coherent support." It will "support Ukraine’s self-defense in line with the UN Charter" and will not make NATO a party to the conflict.

The declaration also outlined an irreversible path toward NATO membership for Ukraine.

Milanovic said Croatia cannot significantly influence or stop the war in Ukraine and involving Croatian forces could endanger the country's security and would not be in Croatia's national interest.

Milanovic, a former prime minister of Croatia who has been president since 2020, has previously expressed similar views, opposing military training for Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia. He also has been critical of Western sanctions on Russia.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic sharply criticized Milanovic's decision, describing it as "manipulation" that undermines Croatia's international standing.

Plenkovic rejected Milanovic's argument that the decision would protect Croatia from involvement in the conflict, asserting that the refusal merely prevented the deployment of a few Croatian officers to a command in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Croatia is a member of NATO since 2009.

RFE/RL Reveals 20,000+ From Russia's Volga Regions Have Died In Ukraine

Flags wave over the recent graves of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine at a cemetery in Russia’s Volgograd region.
Flags wave over the recent graves of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine at a cemetery in Russia’s Volgograd region.

More than 20,000 soldiers from Russia's Povolzhye -- territories comprising several regions around the Volga River -- have died in Ukraine since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor, according to calculations from RFE/RL's Idel.Realities, another sign of the deep impact the Kremlin's war in Ukraine is having on more distant regions of Russia.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

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Data from Idel.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service, show Bashkortostan has the highest death toll at just over 3,000, followed by Tatarstan with 2,724 and Perm Krai with 2,296.

The fewest losses among the 14 regions of Povolzhye were reported in Penza (461) and Mordovia (307).

The data are calculated using reports from relatives of the deceased and official statements.

Authorities in the regions have actively supported the war by offering financial incentives to encourage enlistment.

In addition to soldiers called up through mobilizations, many from the region who joined the war included prison inmates and private military mercenaries, as well as "kontraktniki"-- men who voluntarily sign contracts to fight, induced by extraordinarily high wages and veterans benefits, including for widows and survivors.

The Russian government has been notoriously tightlipped about its war losses since it launched the invasion in February 2022. Its last official figure came in September that year, with 5,937 Russian soldiers killed. At the time, the Ukrainian side was reporting Russian losses at nearly 10 times that figure.

That has made it difficult for reporters, analysts, and outside observers to gauge the full impact of the war on specific populations.

The tally, along with data published by RFE/RL last week, is the latest indication of how the burden of the Kremlin's war on Ukraine is disproportionately falling on more distant regions of Russia, farther away from the wealthy population centers of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service have confirmed the names of 71,057 Russian soldiers killed as of last month, with Bashkortostan and Tatarstan ranking first and fourth in losses nationwide.

Overall, Russian casualties in the Ukraine war now exceed those from all of the post-World War II conflicts that have involved the Soviet Union and Russia since the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Updated

Ukraine Withdraws From Vuhledar As Russia Resumes Strikes On Danube Port

Ukrainian marines stand in the street in the frontline city of Vuhledar on February 25.
Ukrainian marines stand in the street in the frontline city of Vuhledar on February 25.

The Ukrainian military has confirmed that it is pulling out of the strategic city of Vuhledar in the east as Moscow continues its grinding offensive, while Ukraine's critically important Danube port of Izmayil was again targeted by waves of Russian drone strikes that raised the alarm in neighboring NATO member Romania.

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"The higher command has given permission for the withdrawal of units from Vuhledar in order to preserve personnel and combat equipment, and take position for further actions," Ukraine's Khortytsia ground forces formation, which commands eastern regions including Donetsk, said in a message on Telegram.

Russian forces used repeated attacks on the flanks of the city to exhaust the Ukrainian defenses, threatening to surround the hilltop city, the command said.

Moscow's troops, overwhelmingly superior in numbers and equipment, have been slowly advancing in eastern Ukraine despite huge losses, as Ukraine has been desperately appealing to its Western allies to provide it with more advanced weapons and give it permission to strike military objectives deeper inside Russia.

Vuhledar, a deserted former mining town with a prewar population of some 14,000, has been at the center of a ferocious battle since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion in February 2022.

The city, perched on a hilltop, has been virtually razed to the ground, but it retains its strategic importance for the protection of Russia's supply routes and could act as a springboard toward Pokrovsk, a communications hub some 80 kilometers to the north that Moscow has been eying for months.

Russian Telegram channels posted videos of troops waving the Russian flag over shattered buildings.

As ferocious fighting rages in the east, Russia continued pounding Ukrainian cities and economic infrastructure with relentless drone strikes and shelling.

Early on October 2, Russian drones again struck Ukraine's Danube port of Izmayil, on the border with Romania, which has been Kyiv's only gateway to exporting its grain and other produce.

Two people, including a Turkish citizen, were wounded in the attack on Izmayil, Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odesa region, said on Telegram.

"The Russians' target was port and border infrastructure. Two men, truck drivers, were wounded, one of them a citizen of Turkey. Currently, the injured are in moderate condition in the hospital," Kiper wrote.

"Russia continues to wage war against grain and global food security," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba wrote on Telegram, reporting damage to the grain facility and administrative buildings at the Orlivka border crossing with Romania.

Romanian authorities issued a drone alert for the public early on October 2 in Tulcea County on the border.

The Romanian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said NATO scrambled two Spanish F-18 and two Romanian F-16 jets from bases in southeastern Romania to monitor the situation for several hours.

"During this time interval, Romania's radar surveillance system did not detect the penetration of the drones involved in the attack on the Ukrainian targets into the national airspace," the ministry said in a statement.

In the southern Kherson region, a Russian drone strike on a shuttle bus in Antonivka killed one person and wounded another, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Telegram.

Earlier, Russian troops shelled Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on Telegram.

Private residential buildings and a public garage were damaged, Terekhov said, adding that no injuries had been reported so far.

In a similar attack on Derhachi, a small town some 15 kilometers north of Kharkiv, several people were wounded, including a child, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synyehubov reported.

"According to emergency medical personnel, five people, including a 14-year-old boy, sustained shrapnel wounds and were also treated for an acute reaction to stress as a result of the strike in Derhachi," Synyehubov wrote on Telegram.

Kazakh Activists Jailed Ahead Of Nuclear-Power Referendum

Supporters of the activists opposed to building a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan gather outside the Almaty police station after the activists were detained on September 29.
Supporters of the activists opposed to building a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan gather outside the Almaty police station after the activists were detained on September 29.

Five Kazakh activists opposed to the construction of a nuclear power plant have been placed in pretrial detention for at least two months, their lawyers said on October 2. The activists, charged with plotting mass unrest, were detained on September 29, just a week before a national referendum on the nuclear project. The government has pushed for the plant's construction despite widespread opposition. Critics argue that dissent is being silenced ahead of the October 6 poll. Given Kazakhstan's tightly controlled political landscape, many expect the referendum to pass, despite concerns over environmental and political issues. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.

U.S., British Authorities Publicly Link Ex-FSB Officer To Notorious Russian Ransomware Group

Alleged members of the Evil Corp hacker group: Maksim Yakubets (red), Viktor Yakubets (yellow), Artem Yakubets (green)
Alleged members of the Evil Corp hacker group: Maksim Yakubets (red), Viktor Yakubets (yellow), Artem Yakubets (green)

U.S. and British authorities for the first time publicly linked an ex-Russian special forces officer to one of the world's most notorious ransomware groups, adding further evidence of ties, formal and informal, between Russian intelligence agencies and criminal groups.

Eduard Bendersky, who served in the elite Vympel unit of the Federal Security Service, had been identified as early as 2019 as the father-in-law of Maksim Yakubets, the alleged founder of Evil Corp, whose malware has been used around the world to lock out corporate computer systems in exchange for ransom.

Yakubets married Bendersky's daughter Alyona at a lavish wedding ceremony on Moscow's outskirts in 2017, according to photographs and videos discovered by RFE/RL.

In a criminal indictment unsealed in December 2019 against Yakubets, the U.S. Justice Department alleged that he provided "direct assistance to the Russian government's malicious cyber efforts, highlighting the Russian government's enlistment of cybercriminals for its own malicious purposes."

But neither U.S. nor British officials, who have also hit Yakubets and Evil Corp. with financial sanctions, provided details of Yakubets' links to the Russian government.

On October 1, however, the U.S. Treasury Department and Britain's National Crime Agency publicly confirmed Bendersky as Yakubets' father-in-law, calling him a "key enabler of Evil Corp."

"Bendersky leveraged his status and contacts to facilitate Evil Corp's developing relationships with officials of the Russian intelligence services. After the December 2019 sanctions and indictments against Evil Corp and Maksim, Bendersky used his extensive influence to protect the group," the Treasury Department said.

After the December 2019 sanctions and indictments against Evil Corp and Maksim, Maksim sought out Bendersky’s guidance. Bendersky used his extensive influence to protect the group, including his son-in-law, both by providing senior members with security and by ensuring they were not pursued by Russian internal authorities," the department alleged.

Bendersky also, according to the Treasury, was also instrumental in brokering a business deal between Yakubets and Dmitry Kozak, a longtime aide of President Vladimir Putin, as well as German Gref, the current CEO of state banking giant Sberbank.

The National Crime Agency announced parallel sanctions against Bendersky, Yakubets, and more than a dozen other individuals it said were linked to Evil Corp.

Bendersky has made no public comment on the allegations, and could not be located for comment by RFE/RL. Yakubets, who previously had a visible presence on social media, showcasing his love for racing expensive sports cars, has all but disappeared from public view since the 2019 indictment.

The department also alleged that Yakubets' father, Viktor, helped provide technical equipment to his son, helping to facilitate the spread of the ransomware.

The Treasury announcement detailed other alleged links between Yakubets and prominent Russian government insiders. Yakubets, the department alleged, uses his employment at a Russian company to cover his work with Evil Corp. The company, called the National Engineering Corporation, was founded by the son of former Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika.

Relatedly, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment, first issued in March 2023, charging a Russian man named Aleksandr Ryzhenkov with conspiracy for his work with Evil Corp. Ryzhenkov, officials said, was "a long-term associate and second-in-command" for Yakubets. Ryzhenkov, the National Crime Agency said in its statement, was responsible for a affiliated bit of ransomware called LockBit.

Bendersky has also been linked to the 2019 killing in Berlin of former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, according to reporting by the open-source investigative group Bellingcat. An FSB agent named Vadim Krasikov was convicted of killing Khangoshvili, and served several years in a German prison before being released in August as part of a large prisoner swap with the West.

According to Bellingcat, Bendersky directly supervised the preparation for the killing.

Georgian President Refuses To Sign Anti-LGBT Bill Into Law

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has refused to sign into law a bill approved by parliament last month that rights groups and many opposition politicians say drastically curbs the rights of the country's LGBT community.

The so-called "family values" bill was pushed through parliament by the ruling Georgian Dream party on September 17 in an 84-0 vote, which was boycotted by the opposition while rallies were being held by protesters outside the parliament building.

In line with the provisions of the Georgian Constitution, Zurabishvili refused to endorse the bill and returned it to parliament without written comments, the presidential administration confirmed to RFE/RL on October 2.

The move highlights the dramatically polarized political landscape in the Caucasus nation ahead of national elections in October.

Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili, a co-sponsor of the bill and member of the Georgian Dream is now expected to sign the bill into law and publish it within five days.

The package of legal changes, whose complete title is On Family Values And Protection Of Minors, brings changes to 18 current laws, including legislation on free speech and expression as well as broadcasting.


The measures provide for the banning of gatherings that promote the right of a person to identify as a gender other than "his or her biological sex" and they also prohibit gatherings advocating for same-sex orientation or relationships.

The opposition has boycotted parliamentary meetings since May, when Georgian Dream lawmakers approved a "foreign influence" bill, which Western governments and many Georgians liken to Russia's "foreign agent" law used by the Kremlin to clamp down on dissent with broad discretion.

The law requires organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence."

Zurabishvili vetoed that bill, but the ruling party overrode her opposition and promulgated it despite months of public protests and warnings from the United States and the European Union that the measure was eroding Georgia's democracy and its path to integration into the Western institutions.

In response, Washington on September 16 introduced sanctions on more than 60 Georgians, including two members of the government, who it said had "undermined" democracy and human rights in the country, prompting Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to warn that Tbilisi might revise ties with the United States.

The European Union, meanwhile, reacted to the bill by pausing EU accession negotiations.

Ahead of the October 26 elections, Georgian Dream remains the country's single most popular party, according to opinion polls.

Kyiv Investigating 'Largest Mass Execution' Of Ukrainian Soldiers Captured By Russia

Ukrainian POWs react after a prisoner swap at an unknown location in Ukraine earlier this year.
Ukrainian POWs react after a prisoner swap at an unknown location in Ukraine earlier this year.

Ukraine's Prosecutor-General’s Office has initiated an investigation into what it describes as the "largest mass execution" of Ukrainian "prisoners of war" by Russian troops since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion more than 31 months ago.

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According to an official statement published on the office’s Telegram channel, Russian forces allegedly killed 16 Ukrainian "prisoners of war" near the villages of Mykolayivka and Sukhiy Yar in the Pokrovsk district of the Donetsk region.

Videos circulated on various Telegram channels appear to show Ukrainian soldiers, freshly captured by Russian troops, emerging from a forested area.

After the prisoners have lined up, Russian forces appear to opened fire. The videos then appear to show Russian soldiers approaching those who were only wounded and shooting them again at close range with machine guns.

The videos have not been independently verified.

Under international humanitarian law, executing soldiers who have surrendered is considered a war crime.

"This is the largest reported case of the execution of Ukrainian POWs on the front line and yet another indication that the killing and torture of prisoners of war are not isolated incidents," Ukraine's Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin said on X.

"This is a deliberate policy of the Russian military and political leadership."

Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said he had contacted both the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross over the deaths, citing violations of the Geneva Conventions, which govern the treatment of prisoners of war.

Ukraine Alleges Mass Killing Of Prisoners By Russian Forces
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The incident is not the first time such allegations against Russian soldiers have surfaced.

In September, CNN released two videos purportedly showing Russian military personnel executing Ukrainian soldiers as they were surrendering.

The footage, filmed by drones and provided by Ukrainian military intelligence, included audio transcripts that seemingly captured the order to execute the soldiers.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General's Office informed CNN then that it was currently investigating at least 28 cases involving the murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war since Russia launched its full-scale aggression against its neighbor in February 2022.

Russia has yet to respond to the accusations.

Earlier in August, Danielle Bell, the head of mission for the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said that 95 percent of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russia face torture.

Updated

Iranian President Vows 'Harsher Response' If Israel Retaliates Against Tehran

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian (left) and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrive at a joint press conference in Doha on October 2.
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian (left) and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrive at a joint press conference in Doha on October 2.

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said on October 2 that he is not seeking war but warned Israel against retaliating against Iran's missile attack the day before, promising a strong response from Tehran to any further Israeli actions amid growing fears of a wider regional conflict.

"We are not looking for war. It is Israel that forces us to react," Pezeshkian said after arriving in Qatar for a summit with Asian countries.

Pezeshkian criticised Israel over the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas -- designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU -- in July in Tehran, an assassination Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for.

"We also want security and peace. It was Israel that assassinated Haniyeh in Tehran," Pezeshkian was quoted saying on his arrival in Qatar.

Pezeshkian arrived in Qatar a day after Iran fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israel and Israel stepped up its war with Tehran's proxy Hezbollah by sending troops over the border into Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would strike back at Iran following the October 1 missile attack.

"If the Zionist regime (Israel) does not stop its crimes, it will face harsher reactions," Pezeshkian said as he left for the trip, Iranian state media reported.

He added that the United States and European countries should tell Israel not to destabilize the region.

He reiterated his remarks at a joint press conference in Doha with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, saying that if Israel acts in one way against Iran then Tehran will respond in a more severe way.

Tehran on October 1 launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel, its largest so far, in retaliation for the campaign launched by the Jewish state in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, prompting warnings of countermeasures from Israel and its main ally, the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a message on X that the attack targeted "solely military and security sites" involved in what he said was the Israeli "genocide in Gaza and Lebanon" and was conducted by Iran in "self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter."

"Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful," Araghchi said.

Israel Vows To Retaliate As Iran Launches Missile Attack
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Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier said the missile attack was in response to Israel's killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week.

Hezbollah is both an armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, although the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.

People who left audio messages for RFE/RL's Radio Farda in response to the attack indicated they had little hope that anything would change.

"The Islamic republic wanted to show pragmatism, but some in analytical circles (experts and journalists) who live outside of Iran, voiced support for war [and] pushed Iran to attack. Nothing will happen and [it] went hand in hand with hard-liners inside," said one man. "You can't just call for war and bloodshed living in the free world. This is against the basics of democracy. Please help. The world needs peace."

A woman said it was "ridiculous," and noted that some missiles landed inside Iran.

"They think they can do anything. They lit a fire -- I hope they burn in it as well," she said.

Israeli air defenses intercepted most of the estimated 180 missiles that were fired, military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, though some landed in central and southern Israel.

Israeli rescuers said two people were lightly injured by shrapnel while in the occupied West Bank, and a Palestinian was killed in Jericho "when pieces of a rocket fell from the sky and hit him," according to the city's governor Hussein Hamayel.

Israeli Pundit Runs For Cover While Speaking Live To RFE/RL
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In Damascus, Syria, on October 2, an attack took place in the upscale Mezzeh neighborhood. The official Syrian news agency says three people were killed in the attack that targeted an apartment. The Syrian Observatory says the apartment is used by officers from the IRGC and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah said it repelled the Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon, and Israel reported its first losses -- eight soldiers killed -- since launching cross-border raids this week.

Iran's UN envoy said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that the only way to prevent further escalation is for Israel to end the war in Gaza and stop attacks on Lebanon.

Iran's missile attack was "to restore balance and deterrence" and further escalation could be avoided if Israel stopped the war in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon, said Iranian UN Ambassador Amir Saied Iravani.

"Iran is fully prepared to take further defensive measures, if necessary, to protect its legitimate interests and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty against any acts of military aggression and the illegal use of force," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the October 1 attack "a big mistake" and said Tehran "will pay for it."

There has been speculation that Israeli might attack sites related to Tehran’s nuclear program, but U.S. President Joe Biden said he would not support that.

Biden’s comments came after he and fellow Group of Seven leaders spoke by phone on October 2 to discuss coordinating new sanctions against Iran.

The G7 leaders "unequivocally condemned Iran's attack against Israel” and Biden reiterated the United States' "full solidarity and support to Israel and its people," a White House statement said.

Uzbek Teacher Fined For Hitting Student In Russian-Language Dispute

Uzbek capital Tashkent (file photo)
Uzbek capital Tashkent (file photo)

A teacher in Tashkent was fined 6.8 million soms ($534) for hitting a sixth-grade student who asked why she did not speak Russian during a Russian-language class. A video of the incident went viral, leading to the dismissal of the school principal. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on September 25 that Russia had requested official explanations from Uzbekistan. In response, Alisher Qodirov, deputy chairman of Uzbekistan's parliament, said that Russia should focus on its own issues rather than interfering in Uzbekistan’s internal affairs. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, click here.

First Georgian NGOs Added To 'Foreign Agents' Registry Under Controversial Law

Demonstrators take to the streets of Tbilisi on May 28 to protest against the "foreign agents" law, which critics have compared to similar legislation in Russia widely used to suppress dissent and weaken democratic institutions.
Demonstrators take to the streets of Tbilisi on May 28 to protest against the "foreign agents" law, which critics have compared to similar legislation in Russia widely used to suppress dissent and weaken democratic institutions.

Nine Georgian NGOs have been added to the country's register of "foreign agents," marking the first time since a controversial law on foreign influence came into effect two months ago that additions have been made to the list.

Five NGOs initially were added on October 1: Youth Organization of Ukrainians in Georgia -- Svitanok, Professional Union of Farmers and Agricultural Workers of Georgia, Kutaisi Youth House, Union of Christians, and the Jewish Cultural and Educational Foundation.

Shortly afterward, four other organizations were added: Girls -- World Leaders, Tbilisi Youth House, Inclusive Practices, and the Association of Initiatives, Development and Employment.

The names of these organizations, along with their financial disclosures, have been published on the official website of Georgia's public registry of foreign agents.

According to the law, media outlets and NGOs that received more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources in 2023 are required to register as entities working "in the interest of a foreign force." The majority of Georgian media and nonprofits received that level of funding from outside the country last year.

The registration process must be completed through the House of Justice in Tbilisi.

Additionally, the Justice Ministry has been granted broad powers to monitor and investigate organizations for compliance, including the authority to access sensitive information such as personal data.

Many organizations and media outlets have expressed strong opposition to the law, and several have publicly refused to comply. Noncompliance, including failure to register, carries heavy financial penalties.

Georgia's international partners have voiced serious concerns about the law, which critics argue mirrors Russia's controversial "foreign agents" legislation, a tool widely used by Moscow to suppress dissent and weaken democratic institutions.

EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski has warned the law significantly hampers Georgia's prospects of joining the European Union. He noted Georgia's EU accession process has been put on hold as a result. In addition, Georgia's visa-free travel in the Schengen Zone, a key diplomatic achievement, is now under threat.

Despite this, the ruling Georgian Dream party remains steadfast in its claims that the country is on track for EU membership by 2030.

While the law has drawn international criticism, it has been praised by Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, nationalist political philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have all commended the Georgian government for passing the law.

Legal challenges against the law have already been filed. Five lawsuits have been submitted to the Constitutional Court of Georgia requesting the law be suspended. Although the court concluded three days of hearings on September 1, no ruling has been announced.

In response to the law, the United States, a longtime supporter of Georgia's NATO and EU aspirations, announced visa restrictions on Georgian officials involved in passing the legislation and launched a comprehensive review of bilateral relations.

Iran Preparing Imminent Ballistic Missile Attack On Israel, U.S. Official Says

An Israeli Army main battle tank is deployed at a position along the border with Lebanon in northern Israel on October 1.
An Israeli Army main battle tank is deployed at a position along the border with Lebanon in northern Israel on October 1.

Iran is preparing to "imminently" launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to a senior U.S. administration official who warned of "severe consequences" should it take place. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the United States is actively supporting Israeli defensive preparations. Iran’s state media has not suggested any attack is imminent. This comes after the Israeli military on October 1 warned people to evacuate nearly two dozen Lebanese border communities hours after announcing what it said were limited ground operations against Hezbollah. White House officials did not immediately offer any evidence backing its intelligence finding.

Azerbaijani Opposition Figure Dies After Brutal Attack In France

Vidadi Isgandarli (file photo)
Vidadi Isgandarli (file photo)

Vidadi Isgandarli, an Azerbaijani opposition figure in exile well-known for his fierce criticism of the government, has died in France after being brutally beaten and stabbed in an attack at his apartment that his family says was politically motivated.

Oktay Isgandarli confirmed his brother's death to RFE/RL on October 1 after doctors fought for more than a day to keep him alive.

The deadly attack on Isgandarli follows a similar pattern of violence against Azerbaijani opposition figures in exile; in 2021, another politician in exile, Mohammad Mirzali, survived being stabbed.

"My brother had no idea who the attackers were or what motivated the assault.... They did not speak, and they wore masks, making it impossible to identify them," Oktay Isgandarli told RFE/RL.

"I have no doubt this is a politically motivated assassination. My brother survived a previous attack by approximately 15 assailants in 2022 here in France."

Oktay Isgandarli said he received a desperate video call from his brother early on September 29 as he clutched a pillow to his abdomen to try and staunch the bleeding after being attacked by three masked men who had broken into his apartment in Mulhouse in eastern France.

"I contacted the authorities and provided them with my brother's address," he said.

"When I arrived, the police had cordoned off the area, and I was unable to speak with him before he was rushed to the hospital."

Doctors said Vidadi Isgandarli was stabbed at least 21 times in the abdomen as well as blows to the body and head.

They managed to resuscitate him, but he never regained consciousness and succumbed to his injuries early on October 1, they said.

Vidadi Isgandarli was known as a vocal critic of the Azerbaijani government and President Ilham Aliyev, who has maintained a tight grip on power since 2003.

In 2010, Vidadi Isgandarli participated in parliamentary elections, which he denounced as fraudulent after opposition candidates failed to get elected. He then helped organize protests against the official election results.

Arrested in 2011 and charged with various offenses, including assault and interference with election officials, Vidadi denied the allegations, claiming they were politically motivated.

He was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison but was released early in December 2012 in a presidential amnesty.

Fearing further persecution, Vidadi, his brother, and their families emigrated to France in 2015.

With Azerbaijan set to host the climate conference COP29 in November, right groups have said it is imperative that the event is used also to shine a spotlight on the country and the deteriorating human rights situation there.

Earlier this year, Amnesty International noted that it and other human rights groups had documented the "widespread abuse" by the Azerbaijani authorities of the criminal justice system to crack down on human rights including the right to freedom of expression, often "detaining and falsely charging their critics with economic crimes."

Updated

Israel Vows To Retaliate As Iran Launches Massive Missile Attack

People take cover on the side of a road as a siren sounds a warning of incoming missiles fired from Iran on a freeway in Shoresh, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, on October 1.
People take cover on the side of a road as a siren sounds a warning of incoming missiles fired from Iran on a freeway in Shoresh, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, on October 1.

Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack at Israel on October 1 in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Lebanon's Hezbollah in a new escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the country’s air defenses intercepted many of the estimated 180 missiles that were fired, though some landed in central and southern Israel. He said the military was not aware of any injuries and told Israelis about an hour after the attack was launched that it was safe for them to leave their bomb shelters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack "a big mistake" and said Tehran "will pay for it." He added: "Whoever attacks us, we attack them."

U.S. President Joe Biden said he would discuss a response with Netanyahu. Asked what the response would be, Biden replied: "That's in active discussion right now. That remains to be seen."

He added that the attack appears to have been "defeated and ineffective, and this is a testament to Israeli military capability and the U.S. military" and said the United States is "fully supportive of Israel."

Iranian Missiles Trigger Israeli Air Defenses
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One Palestinian was killed by falling debris from an intercepted missile, according to the mayor of the city of Jericho in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and Israeli police reported that at least six people were killed and nine wounded in a shooting and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv.

Police said it was a "terrorist" attack carried out at a light rail station and the two attackers were later killed by civilians and inspectors using their own firearms. There has been no claim of responsibility.

While the missile attack sent Israelis scurrying to take cover in bomb shelters, it prompted people in Iran to celebrate. State television broadcast images from the city of Mashhad showing people in the streets waving the yellow flag of Hezbollah and portraits of the group's slain chief, Hassan Nasrallah. Similar celebrations also took place in the capital Tehran and in several provincial cities.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee in the November 5 presidential election, monitored the attack together at the White House, and Harris said afterward that Iran is a "destabilizing, dangerous force in the Middle East."

Israel Vows To Retaliate As Iran Launches Missile Attack
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National-security adviser Jake Sullivan called the attack a significant escalation by Iran but added that it was ultimately “defeated and ineffective” in part because of assistance from the U.S. military in shooting down some of the inbound missiles.

"Initial reports indicate that Israel was able to intercept the majority of incoming missiles and that there was minimal damage on the ground," Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said, noting two American destroyers fired about a dozen interceptors as part of the defensive effort.

The number of ballistic missiles fired was about twice as many as were fired in an attack on Israel earlier this year, Ryder added in a briefing with journalists. The attack in April was in retaliation for a deadly Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the missile attack on October 1 targeted three military bases around Tel Aviv. It also warned that if Israel retaliated, Tehran's response would be "more crushing and ruinous." Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU, praised the attack as "heroic."

World leaders urged Iran and Israel to step back from the brink and negotiate a cease-fire.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the "broadening conflict in the Middle East" following fighting in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians since Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing nearly 1,200 Israelis. Guterres slammed "escalation after escalation" in the region.

"This must stop. We absolutely need a cease-fire," he said.

The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on the Middle East to take place on October 2.

Israel Launches 'Ground Operation' In Lebanon
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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also called for an immediate cease-fire and condemned Iran's attack "in the strongest terms," while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the attack was "totally unacceptable" and should be condemned by the entire world."

Earlier on October 1, the Israeli military said it had launched "targeted and precise" raids inside Lebanon in what it called a "limited" ground incursion that started overnight, adding that its troops were engaged in "heavy fighting" with Hezbollah, the militant group that controls much of the area.

Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. The European Union blacklists Hezbollah's armed wing but not its political party, which has seats in the Lebanese parliament.

Israel has launched withering air attacks on Hezbollah in recent weeks, killing Nasrallah as well as claiming the lives of multiple Hezbollah leaders and other members of sanctioned militant groups.

Updated

At Least 8 Dead In Russian Strikes As Ukraine Marks 'Defenders Day'

Emergency personnel work at the site of a strike in Zaporizhzhya on October 1.
Emergency personnel work at the site of a strike in Zaporizhzhya on October 1.

At least eight people were killed and several wounded in Russian strikes on the Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, and Sumy on October 1 as the embattled country marked Defenders Day amid an increasingly difficult situation on the battlefield in the east, where Moscow's grinding offensive is making incremental progress.

"A Russian strike on Kherson, right in the city center. As of now, 6 deaths have been confirmed," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on X, adding that six more people were wounded.

The deaths occurred when Russian projectiles struck a marketplace in downtown Kherson, while the other six were wounded in a separate strike on a bus stop in the southern city, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram.

Kherson city was liberated by Ukrainian troops in November 2022, forcing Russian soldiers to retreat eastward across the Dnieper River. But Russia continued to pound Kherson on a regular basis from across the river, leaving numerous civilian casualties as well as damaging civilian and energy infrastructure.

In Zaporizhzhya, Russia attacked apartment buildings and infrastructure with glide bombs, killing one person and wounding six, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Energy Ministry reported on October 1 that Russian troops attacked the main substation and cut off a power line to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant -- Europe's largest -- which was on the verge of a blackout.

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In Sumy, a northeastern region that borders Russia, air strikes killed a woman and wounded two men in the Esman community, the regional prosecutor's office reported.

The governor of Ukraine's Donetsk region said late on October 1 that Russian troops had reached the center of Vuhledar, a strategically significant city because of its high ground and location near the junction of the two main fronts in eastern and southern Ukraine.

"The enemy is already nearly in the center of the city," Governor Vadym Filashkin told Ukrainian TV, describing the situation as very difficult.

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne quoted two Ukrainian soldiers in the brigade defending Vuhledar as saying that while Russian forces were in control of most of the town, some parts remained under Ukrainian control and the brigade had not received orders to leave the city.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said there had been 110 combat clashes at the front during the day. Ukrainian forces are "directing efforts to disrupt the execution of the Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential," according to the General Staff in its evening assessment.

Russian forces unsuccessfully stormed the positions of Ukrainian units near Kharkiv five times, the report said, adding the situation is under control in another battle taking place near Vovchansk.

Russian troops carried out 23 attacks on Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupyansk direction, and 10 skirmishes are still ongoing, the General Staff said late on October 1.

Ukraine Stops For A Minute Of Silence On Defenders' Day
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October 1 was declared Defenders' Day in 2014, months after Russia illegally occupied Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and parts of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It replaced a former holiday marked on February 23 called Defender of the Fatherland Day, which had been instituted in Soviet times.

Across Ukraine, at 9 a.m. local time a minute of silence was held in memory of all Ukrainians who have given their lives defending the independence of their country.

In a message on Telegram, Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, congratulated the Ukrainian soldiers, whom he called "indomitable warriors," who took on the invading Russian forces and over the past 2 1/2 years "gave battle to the so-called 'second army of the world' and stopped it" in its tracks.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also issued a statement thanking every Ukrainian soldier for their unity, courage, and resilience.

"We know what we are fighting for: for our home, for our relatives who dream of a peaceful sky. For cities and villages waiting for liberation. For future generations who will live on their land without fear. And for the memory of those who over the centuries gave their lives for our freedom. Eternal honor to the sons and daughters of Ukraine, who sacrificed their lives for our state," Umerov said in his address.

Separately, Umerov announced the dismissal of three of his deputies. He said on social media he had asked the government to relieve Stanislav Haider, Oleksandr Serhiy and Yuriy Dzhygyr of their duties as deputy defense ministers, and Lyudmyla Darahan as ministry secretary.

"I have set the task of completing the process of cleansing the system of procurement in close cooperation with law enforcement and anti-corruption authorities," Umerov said.

Updated

Rutte Pledges Strong Support For Ukraine As He Takes Reins At NATO

Mark Rutte (left) and Jens Stoltenberg shake hands as Rutte succeeds Stoltenberg as NATO chief at the alliance headquarters in Brussels on October 1.
Mark Rutte (left) and Jens Stoltenberg shake hands as Rutte succeeds Stoltenberg as NATO chief at the alliance headquarters in Brussels on October 1.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte immediately pledged his strong support for Ukraine as he took over as the head of NATO on October 1 at a pivotal time in the military alliance's history as Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor approaches the 1,000-day mark.

Rutte, the longest-serving prime minister in the history of the Netherlands, met with outgoing Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where they laid a wreath to fallen personnel from the alliance as they were surrounded by the flags of its 32 member countries.

They then proceeded into the great hall where top-level North Atlantic Council meetings are held, with Stoltenberg, who leaves after a decade at NATO's helm, presented him with a Viking gavel to use when chairing meetings.

"There can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine," Rutte told the hall in his first speech in office, giving an affirmation of the commitment made by the organization's leaders in 2008 that "Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO."

"We have to make sure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation," Rutte told reporters afterward.

NATO, founded in 1949 to deter and defend against any attack on its members in Western Europe by the Soviet Union, has found itself back in the diplomatic spotlight due to the war in Ukraine and a Russia, led by its autocratic president, Vladimir Putin.

Rutte appears to enjoy close relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

As Dutch prime minister, he helped get F-16 fighter aircraft sent to Ukraine, secured stronger EU economic sanctions on Moscow despite Dutch dependency on trade, and helped move Ukraine along the path toward EU membership.

The Ukrainian leader applauded Rutte's taking the helm of the alliance, saying he "looks forward to working" together to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security as Ukraine continues on its path towards full-fledged NATO membership.

"Only together, Ukraine and its allies, can we truly guarantee a peaceful, stable, and secure Europe," he said in a post on X.

But Rutte, the 57-year-old Hague-born politician known for his affable manner, faces the tricky question of whether Ukraine will get an invitation to join NATO.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Putin knew Rutte well from previous meetings and that no change in policy is expected.

"Our expectations are that the North Atlantic alliance will continue to work in the same direction in which it has been working," he said.

"At one time, there were hopes for the possibility of building good pragmatic relations -- at least, such a dialogue was conducted -- but subsequently we know that the Netherlands took a rather irreconcilable position, a position on the complete exclusion of any contacts with our country," he added.

Adding to the balancing act, Rutte takes over NATO just over a month before the United States, the alliance’s biggest funding source, holds a presidential election between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

The former president has been critical of NATO and has not said whether he wants Kyiv to come out victorious in repelling the Kremlin's invasion. Harris has supported continuing to send arms to help Ukraine fight back.

"I know both candidates very well.... I will be able to work with both. Whatever is the outcome of the election," he said.

"I worked for four years with Donald Trump. He was the one pushing us to spend more (on defense), and he achieved because indeed, at the moment, we are now at a much higher spending level than we were when he took office," Rutte added, noting Harris had a "fantastic record" as vice president and is "a highly respected leader."

With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak, Reuters, and AP

IAEA Says Grossi To Visit Belarus

The Astravets nuclear power plant in northwestern Belarus (file photo)
The Astravets nuclear power plant in northwestern Belarus (file photo)

Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, is to visit Belarus on October 1, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement. Grossi will hold "high-level meetings" in Minsk and will visit the country's nuclear power plant in Astravets, in northwestern Belarus, the IAEA said. Grossi and his team "will assess the situation at the site almost four years after it was connected to the grid and its progress in addressing the findings of an IAEA operational safety review in 2021," the statement said, adding that Grossi's trip comes as the agency "is focusing on ensuring nuclear safety and security in the region."

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